diff --git a/velocity-engine-core/src/main/resources/org/apache/velocity/runtime/defaults/velocity.properties b/velocity-engine-core/src/main/resources/org/apache/velocity/runtime/defaults/velocity.properties
index e790f7906..e51cb6273 100644
--- a/velocity-engine-core/src/main/resources/org/apache/velocity/runtime/defaults/velocity.properties
+++ b/velocity-engine-core/src/main/resources/org/apache/velocity/runtime/defaults/velocity.properties
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ directive.foreach.max_loops = -1
 # as long as zero numbers, do evaluate to false.
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-directive.if.empty_check = true
+directive.if.empty_check = false
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # P A R S E  P R O P E R T I E S
@@ -127,8 +127,7 @@ velocimacro.body_reference = bodyContent
 # without an explicit default value is missing from the macro call, its value
 # will be looked up in the global context
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-velocimacro.enable_bc_mode = false
-
+velocimacro.enable_bc_mode = true
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # STRICT REFERENCE MODE
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -206,7 +205,7 @@ introspector.uberspect.class = org.apache.velocity.util.introspection.UberspectI
 # Sets the data types Conversion Handler used by the default uberspector
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-introspector.conversion_handler.class = org.apache.velocity.util.introspection.TypeConversionHandlerImpl
+introspector.conversion_handler.class = none
 1
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -248,7 +247,7 @@ introspector.restrict.classes = javax.script.ScriptEngine
 # Possible values: none, bc (aka Backward Compatible), lines, structured
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-parser.space_gobbling = lines
+parser.space_gobbling = bc
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # HYPHEN IN IDENTIFIERS
@@ -256,4 +255,7 @@ parser.space_gobbling = lines
 # Set to true to allow '-' in reference identifiers (backward compatibility option)
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-parser.allow_hyphen_in_identifiers = false
+parser.allow_hyphen_in_identifiers = true
+
+# When displaying null arguments literals, use provided arguments literals
+velocimacro.arguments.preserve_literals = true